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25 Years of Teamwork, Communication and Problem Solving...and Still Having Fun!

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The Mountain Challenge StoryRunning, bicycling, hiking, trail running, climbingare all activities I have enjoyed for many years. Early

on I realized these sports not only kept me physically t, but mentally t as well. Combining physical

elements into my work life began immediately after graduate school. During the early 1980s, this meant

using exercise prescriptions with many of my clients. During the winter of 1985, I learned some valuable

lessons using the wilderness with some work at the North Carolina Outward Bound School. By the fall

of 1986, I wanted to do more work with groups and the wilderness without the long commute to North

Carolina. Thus began Mountain Challenge.

During the fall season of 1986, I used the Wesley Woods adventure facilities and worked with about 30

mostly corporate clients. The director of the Wesley Woods facility and I were excited about the promise of

this arrangement and spent the rest of the winter and into the next spring talking about the possibilities.

Two signicant developments in our history started in 1987. First, following a cabinet retreat using

Mountain Challenge, the new president of Maryville College asked what it would take to move

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Mountain Challenge to the College campus (where I was already working part-time). Second, following

a ropes course for his supervisors, a plant manager for Sea Ray Boats asked what Id like to have for mybusiness. I told him that a ropes course on the College campus would be ideal. With his help we obtained a

grant from the Brunswick Foundation and had our own ropes course planned, built, and operational by the

spring of 1988.

The 1990s saw rapid growth. We moved from serving 1,000 people in 1990 to over

6,000 in 1999. We went from four to ve contract staff in 1990 to nearly 50 staff today.

Weve become an important part of the Maryville College curriculum. Weve become a

part of several corporate university training programs. In 1991, we wrote a one-sentence

mission statement that guides us to this day. In 1993, we added an Alpine Tower that has

since grown into one of our signature events. In 1998, we redened our relationship with

Maryville College and added my daughter, Emily (then 4 years old), as a partner. Also in

1998 we articulated our principles in a document that supports our mission and affects all

that we do. We became a two-time Tennessee Quality Award winner.

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The new millennium found us serving 10,000 participants by 2005 and questioning the amount of growth

that for us would be sustainable. Instead of an ever-thickening policy manual, in 2006 we committedourselves to a written covenant. Like nearly everyone else, we felt the effects of a tough economy. But,

we nd ourselves still standing and moving forward

as the rst decade of the 21st century draws to a

close. In short, we are the regions premiere outdoor

adventure provider.

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Mission StatementWe provide high quality,

safe outdoor experiences

designed to change

the world for the better,

one person at a time.

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First PrinciplesFirst Principles are tenets so true and right that they are accepted without debate.

Safety People perceive some of our activities as dangerous. Sometimes those perceptions are accurate.

Because there can be real danger involved, we take extraordinary safety precautions. If our participants

dont feel safe, nothing else will happen. We rely on our staff to make sound safety judgments.

OurSafetymeasure:Weexpect99.85%ofourcoursestobeincidentfree.

Ourdenitionofanincidentisopeningourrstaidkit.

Quality We insist on quality in everything that we do. Yvon Chouinard said, Quality is not something that

can be pursued piecemeal. Either you believe in it or you dont; either it surfaces everywhere or it likely

wont be seen anywhere. For us, certain links have become obvious between the quality of our courses,

customer service, our workplace and the lives of our staff. If we miss any piece, there is a good chance

well miss it all. We embrace high standards.

OurQualitymeasure:Ona5.0-pointcourseclientevaluationscale,weexpecta

4.75+overallsatisfactionratingimmediatelyfollowingacourse.

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Supporting PrinciplesHave Fun Doing what we enjoy shows itself in all the things that we do. No other single supporting

principle has as much impact on quality as this one. When we no longer enjoy our work, were doneeven

if were still employed. And dont be fooled by our bicycles and running shoes we work hard.

Establish Difcult Goals We need to get ourselves out of the habit of thinking

in incremental changes. Average goals yield average outcomes. Individually and

collectively we are more capable than we realize. Difcult goals make dreams cometrue.

Expect It of Ourselves We teach clients many lessons. Among them are that the

oh no moments in life signal important events and that new outcomes require

different approaches. If we teach it, we should try to do it.

Foster Flexibility We cannot separate our work life from our personal life. The

quality of our lives extends beyond ofce hours. We should run when we can, ski

when theres snow on the ground and go to the playground with our kids whenever

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we can. We also expect our work to get done. Supporting a exible workplace will

make us prosper.

Be Sustainable Stay light and keep things simple. Stay

focused on our mission. We should be the right size.

Financially, we should be protable while realizing that how

we earn our money is as important as how much money we

earn and spend. We must live within our means.

Grow and Take Care of Our Staff Our staff is our most

valuable resource. Trust professional staff to make professional

judgments. Enhance staff competencies through training and

development.

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Believe in What We Do The experience is powerful. We do make an impact. One more step. We just have

to believe. We are changing the world.

Work to Create Loyalty Pay attention to all of our critical

relationships with our customers, with our strategic partners

and with our staff. Listen, be honest, and follow-up. Measure

success by the quality of our relationships.

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The Commitment

For us, the most important thing is

the constant attention we give

to our mission and principles.

These must turn into actions.

And actions speak louder than words.

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For questions or further information, contact:

Mountain Challenge502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway

Maryville, Tennessee 37804

865.981.8125

Email: info@mtnchallenge.com

Web: www.mtnchallenge.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MountainChallenge

Twitter: www.twitter.com/mtnchallenge

StrategicPartner:

Maryville College